Colored Lights/Smoke Machines/Strobe Bright Lights

[Narrow Is The Way]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

I don't think drinking beer is wrong, and no, it's not Biblical. Getting drunk is what is wrong, and that IS Biblical.

Having a bikini contest violates the modesty teachings that are Biblical.

Can you possibly have honest discussion, or is this what you expect me to respond to? We are talking about lights here, not involving ourselves in the sin of others.

Great, you can be in charge of ladies ministry.

[Narrow Is The Way]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

I don't think drinking beer is wrong, and no, it's not Biblical. Getting drunk is what is wrong, and that IS Biblical.

Having a bikini contest violates the modesty teachings that are Biblical.

Can you possibly have honest discussion, or is this what you expect me to respond to? We are talking about lights here, not involving ourselves in the sin of others.

Chapter and verse please. I want something specific. I don't want to make a judgment based upon what I think the scripture means. That would be making my own doctrine. This is about reaching the world by any means possible.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Romans 14:22

Well, I'm a newcomer to posting but have lurked for a long time. Hi everyone!

My take on the smoke and mirrors is that I have seen emotional altar calls but no long lasting fruit. It is sort of like the seed that was thrown by the wayside. These types "did not understand" and the wicked one quickly took it away. (MT 13:19)

It appears that it is an emotional response without any understanding of the gospel and it is easily swiped away by the enemy.

As one of my former Pastors used to say, "if your saved by music you can fall away by music". I don't know if that was verbatim but it was something similar.

Welcome Romans,

Your point is one that is relevent with or without colored lights and smoke machines.

People saved through being scared to death by doom and gloom preachers are "saved" by fear and fall away when the fear subsides.

How many revivals or youth camps with the preacher telling scary stories of either the end time or car wrecks have we seen the altar filled with folks caught up in the moment without a real change of heart and mind?

Colored lights and smoke machines will never be a substitute for prayer, worship, praise ,etc. They are simply tools to set a mood, stimulate the mind, make a presentation more interesting or pleasing.

If the CONTENT at the event with colored lights and smoke machines is good, right, and the word of the Lord it will not return void.

If the CONTENT at the event without colored lights and smoke machines is the vain words of men the fact there were no colored lights or smoke machines there will not give any power to those words.

Lights, smoke, amplification, screens, are all tools just like air conditioing to make the atmosphere more pleasing when a group of people are together.

One of the most powerful things I have seen was at a large church where when the praise and worship was going on they were singing a song about our powerful God, God of heven and earth, how he has made the mountains, oceans, etc they had on the big video screens a video montage of mountains, the ocean, fields, etc. It made you really appreciate the words you were singing and brought to mind just how majestic God's creative ability is.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by CC1

Welcome Romans,

Your point is one that is relevent with or without colored lights and smoke machines.

People saved through being scared to death by doom and gloom preachers are "saved" by fear and fall away when the fear subsides.

How many revivals or youth camps with the preacher telling scary stories of either the end time or car wrecks have we seen the altar filled with folks caught up in the moment without a real change of heart and mind?

Colored lights and smoke machines will never be a substitute for prayer, worship, praise ,etc. They are simply tools to set a mood, stimulate the mind, make a presentation more interesting or pleasing.

If the CONTENT at the event with colored lights and smoke machines is good, right, and the word of the Lord it will not return void.

If the CONTENT at the event without colored lights and smoke machines is the vain words of men the fact there were no colored lights or smoke machines there will not give any power to those words.

Lights, smoke, amplification, screens, are all tools just like air conditioing to make the atmosphere more pleasing when a group of people are together.

One of the most powerful things I have seen was at a large church where when the praise and worship was going on they were singing a song about our powerful God, God of heven and earth, how he has made the mountains, oceans, etc they had on the big video screens a video montage of mountains, the ocean, fields, etc. It made you really appreciate the words you were singing and brought to mind just how majestic God's creative ability is.

Excellent post, CC. Dead on.

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Romans 14:22

Well, I'm a newcomer to posting but have lurked for a long time. Hi everyone!

My take on the smoke and mirrors is that I have seen emotional altar calls but no long lasting fruit. It is sort of like the seed that was thrown by the wayside. These types "did not understand" and the wicked one quickly took it away. (MT 13:19)

It appears that it is an emotional response without any understanding of the gospel and it is easily swiped away by the enemy.

As one of my former Pastors used to say, "if your saved by music you can fall away by music". I don't know if that was verbatim but it was something similar.

Very good post! Keep posting!

As CC1 said, if you're brought to Christ through emotion, something needs to pierce the heart so there is substance once the emotion has gone.

I have seen your reference to music happen many times!

I have heard it said that music can get people there, but it's the preaching that keeps them there!

[Encryptus]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

Very good post! Keep posting!

As CC1 said, if you're brought to Christ through emotion, something needs to pierce the heart so there is substance once the emotion has gone.

I have seen your reference to music happen many times!

I have heard it said that music can get people there, but it's the preaching that keeps them there!

True, on the other hand it is also true of over hyped emotional preaching.

Conversation is usually an emotional experience. Teaching is what grounds you.

And teaching is sadly lacking even among our ranks compared to what it once was.

Not too dissimilar than marriage. The emotion of love usually starts the ball rolling, but relationship is built on more than emotion. Perhaps the reason the divorce rate is so high, is related to the abysmal retention rate of many of our churches? They leave when faced with a challenge that requires a commitment beyond emotion.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Encryptus

True, on the other hand it is also true of over hyped emotional preaching.

Conversation is usually an emotional experience. Teaching is what grounds you.

And teaching is sadly lacking even among our ranks compared to what it once was.

Not too dissimilar than marriage. The emotion of love usually starts the ball rolling, but relationship is built on more than emotion. Perhaps the reason the divorce rate is so high, is related to the abysmal retention rate of many of our churches? They leave when faced with a challenge that requires a commitment beyond emotion.

Another home run post, excellent!

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Encryptus

True, on the other hand it is also true of over hyped emotional preaching.

Conversation is usually an emotional experience. Teaching is what grounds you.

And teaching is sadly lacking even among our ranks compared to what it once was.

Not too dissimilar than marriage. The emotion of love usually starts the ball rolling, but relationship is built on more than emotion. Perhaps the reason the divorce rate is so high, is related to the abysmal retention rate of many of our churches? They leave when faced with a challenge that requires a commitment beyond emotion.

Awesome post!

[1Corinth2v4]

Originally Posted by CC1

Welcome Romans,

Your point is one that is relevent with or without colored lights and smoke machines.

People saved through being scared to death by doom and gloom preachers are "saved" by fear and fall away when the fear subsides.


Colored lights and smoke machines will never be a substitute for prayer, worship, praise ,etc. They are simply tools to set a mood, stimulate the mind, make a presentation more interesting or pleasing.



Lights, smoke, amplification, screens, are all tools just like air conditioing to make the atmosphere more pleasing when a group of people are together.

CC1,



First you criticize preachers for gloom and doom sermons, which are reality by the way, then you state colored lights, and smoke machines are simply tools to set a mood, and stimulate the mind?


What are you trying to do, seduce people with the mood? That sounds about right, thanks for your confession!



You said:

"They are simply tools to set a mood, stimulate the mind, make a presentation more interesting or pleasing"

Then you said:

Lights, smoke, amplification, screens, are all tools just like air conditioing to make the atmosphere more pleasing

It was just as I thought. God forbid you folks get ahold of God before a service and have Him set the mood and stimulate the minds of people through his word and spirit.

But since you folks don't know how to get ahold of God, you utilize carnal methods by trying to get their attention through colored lights and smoke machines, just as you stated above!


44) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.....

45) It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.




It takes preaching and teaching to come before God. Stop beating around the bush with colored lights and smoke machines. If you want to get into the hearts of people, feed them the word of GOD, that's what's going to draw them!

You don't need colored lights, Christian rock concerts or smoke machines to win the lost, you need the word of God.

ALSO, STOP TRYING TO SET THE MOOD AND STIMULATE THE MINDS WITH COLOR LIGHTS AND SMOG MACHINE.THE HOLY-GHOST DOESN'T NEED YOUR HELP!

PREACH THE WORD AND HE'LL STIMULATE THE MINDS AND SET THE MOOD!


My my........God, forgive those people that think colored lights and smokes machines can stimulate the mind and set the mood better than you possibly could.


I guess these people started off in the spirit and have become perfected in the flesh!

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

CC1,



First you criticize preachers for gloom and doom sermons, which are reality by the way, then you state colored lights, and smoke machines are simply tools to set a mood, and stimulate the mind?


What are you trying to do, seduce people with the mood? That sounds about right, thanks for your confession!



You said:





Then you said:





It was just as I thought. God forbid you folks get ahold of God before a service and have Him set the mood and stimulate the minds of people through his word and spirit.

But since you folks don't know how to get ahold of God, you utilize carnal methods by trying to get their attention through colored lights and smoke machines, just as you stated above!


44) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.....

45) It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.




It takes preaching and teaching to come before God. Stop beating around the bush with colored lights and smoke machines. If you want to get into the hearts of people, feed them the word of GOD, that's what's going to draw them!

You don't need colored lights, Christian rock concerts or smoke machines to win the lost, you need the word of God.

ALSO, STOP TRYING TO SET THE MOOD AND STIMULATE THE MINDS WITH COLOR LIGHTS AND SMOG MACHINE.THE HOLY-GHOST DOESN'T NEED YOUR HELP!

PREACH THE WORD AND HE'LL STIMULATE THE MINDS AND SET THE MOOD!


My my........God, forgive those people that think colored lights and smokes machines can stimulate the mind and set the mood better than you possibly could.


I guess these people started off in the spirit and have become perfected in the flesh!

I think you have missed the point!

Everyone agrees that solid teaching and preaching is what's vital in a Christian's life.

But, different churches use different means to get outsiders interested a relationship with the Almighty God.

Things that bring out emotion are very powerful and effective, but they're not able to sustain. What does one do when they are alone and depressed and there is no choir, no music, no lazer lights or no screaming preacher? This is where their faith kick in, which has built up through solid teaching and preaching. This is where the Holy Ghost is at it's best!

We all like the emotional high of a great church service, but it takes more than that to keep walking the Christian journey. The Christian journey is more than enduring emotional high to emotional high.